Game device



Dec. 17, 1940.7 E A WALSH 2,224,996

GAME DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1959 INVENTOR. y

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

Numerous games have been devisedwhich depend upon the skill of theplayer. There are just as many, if not more, the outcome of which dependupon pure chance. The former, as backgammon, chess and the like, take upspace and consume considerable time; and the latter, such as roulette,are also bulky and moreover, their use is prohibited in many States.

Among the points to be desired in a game device are rst, simplicity andcompactness7 second, durability, third, it should be easy to play, andlast, it should require but a few seconds to play a single game.

I have invented a game in the nature of a spinner, which fullls all theaforementioned desired requirements, and enables two people to indulgethe gambling instinct-inherent in mostl personsas many times as fancydictates. The device can be carried in the pocket, placed on a bar,table, or other place for playing, and instantaneously removed at will.

In brief, the invention comprises a base or pedestal, with aperpendicular socket, adapted to receive a spindle, on the outer end ofwhich there is an indicator. The mounting of the spindle, in conjunctionwith its socket, whereby extreme velocity of the indicator andprevention cf lateral thrust may be obtained, is one of the salientfeatures.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the spinner,

Fig. 2 presents a transverse section thereof,

Fig. 3 illustrates an enlarged cross section of the indicator andspindle assembled with the bearing,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spindle, and

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the socket.

With more particular reference to the drawing, 5 indicates a base orpedestal, preferably of circular contour and slightly convex, with aline 6 extending diametrically to divide the upper surface of the baseinto halves, which may bear any suitable indicia, in accordance with thespecific nau ture of the game it is desired to play. The upper surfacemay be similarly laid out in segments of varying dimensions Withappropriate notations cr legends, should the occasion so require.

Secured medially of the base 5, as by means of upsetting the dependinglug l, is a vertically disposed socket 8 best seen in Fig. 5-the lowerportion of which is rounded off as at 9, to receive an anti-frictionbearing IIJ, While the upper terminal is provided with an internalannular recess II, of greater diameter than the central, counter bore orconcavity I2 of the socket,

` the latter presenting the contour of a flat, circular flange with anupstanding stub I9.

` Inv assembling the elements of the invention, spindle I5 is insertedin socket 8 with the lower end of shank I6 resting upon anti-frictionbearing I0 and the bottom of ange Il engaging seat I3 of recess II. Sopositioned, wall I4 of recess II is contracted until it lies against theangular, inclined outer wall of flange II-see dotted lines in Fig.B-with the result that a bearing for the spindle is afforded at twopoints, namely, (1) by the anti-friction elementv I0 and (2) by the seatI3 of recess II, whereby a true axial rotation of the spindle within itscomplemental socket and the total absence of any lateral thrust isinsured. A further point in this connection is that because of thelesser diameter of shank I6 than the internal bore I 2 of socket 8, theshank is rendered devoid of friction along the entire extent of itsvertical wall.

Flange I8 serves as a support for any kind of a suitable indicator 20,the connection at this point being secured by upsetting stub I9.

In practical operation, the indicator is impelled with ones finger,either by a pushing or flipping movement, and due primarily to the novelmounting of the spindle within the socket, the indicator proceeds torotate at a high rate of speed, depending, obviously, upon the forceexerted by the linger. The outcome of the game depends upon which sideof the line 6 of base 5 the po-inter end of the indicator comes to rest.

The compactness of my invention and facility o f playing admits ofuniversal use, Wherever men or women meet and wish to indulge in a quickgame of chance. Its durability assures an almost indefinite life.

It should be understood that in broader aspects, the inventioncomprehends not onlyk the various means described, but equivalent meansfor performing the recited functions. Applicant reserves the right toeffect such modifications or changes as may come fairly Within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim: f

l.. A spinner comprising, in combination, a base, a vertical socketcarried by the base and provided with an annular seat at its outerterminal, a pliant wall extending from said seat,

an anti-friction bearing disposed in the bottom of the socket, a spindlehaving a shank resting on said bearing and formed at its outer extremitywith an annular projection engageable with said seat, said wall beingbent towards said projection, said shank being freely rotatable withinthe socket between said seat and bearing, and an indicator carried bythe outer end of the spindle.

2. A spinner comprising, in combination, a base, a vertical socketcarried by the base and provided with an annular recess at its outerterminal, an anti-friction bearing disposed in the bottom of the socket,a spindle having its lower end resting on said bearing and formed at itsouter extremity with an annular projection engaging the inner surface ofsaid recess, the wall of said recess being inturned against the side ofsaid projection, and an indicator mounted upon the outer end of thespindle.

3. A spinner comprising, in combination, a base, a vertical socketcarried by the base and provided with an annular recess at its outerterminal, an anti-friction bearing disposed in the bottom of the socket,a spindle having its lower end resting on said bearing and formed at itsouter extremity with an annular, substantially conoidal-shapedprojection engaging the inner surface of said recess, the wall of saidrecess being inturned against the side of said projection, and anindicator mounted upon the outer end of the spindle.

4. A spinner comprising, in combination, a base, a verticalsocket'carried by the base and provided with an annular recess at itsouter terminal, an anti-friction bearing disposed in the bottom of thesocket, an integral spindle having its lower end resting on said bearingand formed at its outer extremity with a pair of annular projections,oneof said projections engaging the inner surface of said recess, the wallof said recess being inturned against the side of said projection, andan indicator mounted upon the other projection.

EDWARD A. WALSH.

